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Yuri Shakhmuradov, longtime head coach of the USSR national team, discussed the phenomenon of Dagestani wrestlers using the example of Ruslan Ashuralijev, a two-time world champion. Shakhmuradov explained that pioneers like Ali Aliyev and Zagalav Abdulbekov showed how to win world championships and Olympics, establishing a tradition of success. He emphasized that the foundation was built on extraordinary work ethic and ability to endure suffering. As an example, he described Ashuralijev running 28 kilometers alone from Makhachkala to the airport at 8am regularly, loads so extreme that modern athletes would find them hard to believe. At the 2026 European Championship, Dagestani wrestlers won six gold medals, continuing this legacy.
AgentMMA.com
